As at the time of writing this piece, the course was in its sixth week (February 18, 2025) on the topic ‘Character is a choice.’ The module teaches that integrity, honesty, and moral strength are not just inherited traits but deliberate decisions one makes every time, every day, regardless of circumstance.
SACKOBF was initiated by U.S. –based Engr. Bernard Adebayo-Ige, P.E., (1975/80 set), a Licensed Professional Engineer and Pastor of Winners Christian Church in Corona, California. He is also the current chairman, for a two-year tenure, of the Executive Council (Exco) composed of some alumni.
The Foundation was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in August 2023. However, membership is open to every alumnus of St. Augustine’s College who meets the conditions stipulated by the constitution and other extant rules. These may be viewed on the website www.sackabbafoundation.org. In addition to individual membership, class sets may pay for and take a seat, represented by one of them, on the Board. Already, a number of sets, have come on board, having met the necessary conditions, including an annual payment of N500, 000. The 1970 set is represented by Dr. Martin Makoju, 1976 by Pastor Joseph Oluwatosin, 1980 by Mr. Sanni Mohammed, 1986 by Mr. Jide Olorunfemi, and 1987 set by Mr. Ralph Bolaji.
Pastor Adebayo-Ige often quotes former American President George H.W. Bush to say that ‘any definition of success include must include serving others’. Motivated by a desire to give back to a school that has contributed to their life achievements, the vision of the foundation members is ‘to provide St. Augustine’s College with the highest standard of secondary education’ by building character on the one hand, and on the other hand, improving the quality of the infrastructure, academic, leadership, and recreational activities.
The Foundation aims for a school so complete that its members can, in no distant future, send their grandchildren to study. To this end, SACKOBF is founded on seven core values namely: excellence, inclusivity, integrity, empowerment, innovation, collaboration, and community impact.
Its eight-point objective spelt out in the constitution include : ‘to provide resources for educational an leadership development for the next generation of world leaders that will pass though the college’, ‘to promote the standard, prestige, and good name of (the school), ‘explore cooperation with all alumni of the college’, and ‘to encourage members to individually and collectively support teaching and other scholarly activities in the college’. The strategy of the Foundation to achieve its high and laudable objectives is first, to raise funds from membership dues, and donations and grants from local and foreign education-friendly sources.
Second, ‘Standing Committees’ are charged with various functions that, altogether, advance the aims and objectives of SACKOBF. The Academic Committee chaired by Canada-based Mr. Emmanuel Ojo (1980) focuses on improving the academic standard of the college, including recruitment and training of teachers. To date fourteen teachers have been rigorously interviewed, employed and fully on the payroll of the foundation. Besides a number of retired educationists have been engaged to, based on specific criteria, periodically assess and give written report, on the performance of SACKOBF teachers.
The Fundraising Committee currently headed by Mr. Gabriel Owope (1979) is responsible for developing programs and event to raise funds. The innovative efforts (including the now concluded Inter-House Fundraising Competition and the ingenious ‘Giving Monday’ idea) of the committee has yielded, additional to members’ contributions and donations, several millions of naira, that enable the foundation carry on its work of philanthropy.
The Infrastructure Committee led by Dr. Ayo Olowonihi (1980) has the mandate to focus on infrastructure improvement. Through the diligence of this committee, a dilapidated two-storey multi-classroom building in the school has been renovated and equipped with modern furniture worthy of 21st century classrooms. As it takes on other renovation works, the assignment of this important committee is continual work-in-progress.
To ensure that SACKOBF operates with the highest level of integrity, Engr. Jerome Bello heads the Board of Trustees. A foundation (1958/63) student and alumnus who has for years consistently demonstrated in various ways, his passion to make St. Augustine’s the as good a school as it possibly can be. Mr. Bello retired at the executive director level at the iconic blue chip company, Nigerian Breweries Plc.
For the overarching reason that SACKOBF members aim to not only make their alma mater great again, but indeed be good enough for their grandchildren to attend, they are driving their vision with the utmost zeal, innovative thinking, and collaboration with well-meaning persons and organisations around the world. They are also extend an open invitation to every alumnus to come on board in this noble endeavor.
Given the will, the determination, and the enthusiasm that pervades and drives SACKOBF, there is every reason to believe that with time, it will achieve its goal. This, in sum, is to make St. Augustine’s College, Kabba a global leading light in secondary education and a breeding place of, not mere leaders, but transformational leaders in the service of their immediate community, their country, and even the world.
Concluded.
Onaiyekan, is a member of The Guardian Editorial Board. He is also on the SACKOBF Board and Chairman of the Foundation’s Leadership Development Committee.
